The report, titled “Action and Ambition: London Fire Brigade’s culture,” acknowledges the progress made since the damning review in 2022 but highlights areas where further action is required
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been making strides in addressing cultural issues within its ranks, but a recent report by the London Assembly Fire Committee suggests that more needs to be done to build trust in the service. The report, titled “Action and Ambition: London Fire Brigade’s culture,” acknowledges the progress made since the damning review in 2022 but highlights areas where further action is required.
The 2022 review had brought to light significant cultural issues within the LFB, prompting the brigade to take steps to address these concerns. The outgoing London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe, was praised by the Committee for making culture change a “key pillar” of his leadership. However, the report indicates that while progress has been made, there are still areas where the LFB needs to show greater ambition.
One of the key issues highlighted in the report is the performance of the LFB’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU). Established to handle complaints of misconduct, the PSU is the first of its kind in the Fire and Rescue sector. Despite its innovative nature, the report reveals that the PSU has struggled to manage the volume of complaints it receives in a timely manner. This has led to delays in resolving complaints, which have had a negative impact on the wellbeing of staff involved in these cases.
The cost of suspensions in the first year of the PSU’s operation was nearly £900,000, excluding the costs of any investigations undertaken by the PSU. This figure underscores the scale of the challenge faced by the LFB in managing misconduct complaints effectively.
The report also identifies the need for stronger messages and actions to challenge misconduct and to build a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities the LFB serves. It suggests that while the LFB has made progress in these areas, more ambitious targets and strategies are needed to ensure sustained improvement.
The London Assembly Fire Committee has put forward several key recommendations to address these issues. Firstly, it suggests that the LFB should ensure the independence of the complaints and investigations element of the PSU by creating a new independent Standards Commissioner. This commissioner would be responsible for overseeing the PSU, thereby ensuring that it operates with greater independence and impartiality.
Secondly, the report recommends that the LFB should continue to survey its workforce at least annually and publish the findings of these surveys. This would help maintain transparency and openness within the organisation, allowing for continuous assessment and improvement of workplace culture.
Additionally, the LFB is urged to publish a new strategy for attracting and retaining more diverse candidates into the service. This would help to build a workforce that better represents the communities it serves, fostering greater trust and understanding between the LFB and the public.
The report also calls on the Government to establish a College of Fire and Rescue by the end of this Parliamentary term. The College would be tasked with developing and managing a national barred list for staff who have been dismissed for gross misconduct. This would help to ensure that individuals who have engaged in serious misconduct are not able to re-enter the Fire and Rescue sector.
Hina Bokhari OBE AM, Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, acknowledged the substantial work that has been done to address misconduct since the Independent Culture Review. She noted that the Commissioner recognises the need to prioritise culture change and that there are no quick fixes to ensure a healthy workplace. However, she also highlighted the importance of setting more ambitious targets on building a more diverse workforce that represents London.
The Committee recognises that the volume of work being handled by the PSU is evidence that cultural issues are being tackled, but it also indicates that these issues have not gone away. The report highlights the concerns of firefighters who have spoken about serious instances and patterns of alleged misconduct and their lack of faith in procedures to address these issues. Delays in resolving complaints have had a real impact on the wellbeing of staff on both sides of these complaints.
The Committee encourages the LFB to explore different structures and processes that would allow for greater independence in the PSU, building greater trust among staff and helping deliver fair outcomes for all parties. It also urges the LFB to set more ambitious targets on building a more diverse workforce that represents London, to ensure that the positive pace of work seen over the past two years does not start to falter.
While the London Fire Brigade has made significant efforts to strengthen its culture since the 2022 review, the report by the London Assembly Fire Committee highlights the need for greater ambition and action. By addressing the recommendations put forward, the LFB can continue to build trust within its ranks and with the communities it serves, ensuring a safer and more inclusive environment for all.
